Curtain stretcher



1,645,245 1927' A. w. KNITTEL CURTAIN STRETCHER original Filed Sept, 25, 1925 2 Sheerls-Sheet 1 SIM/Owl -Oct. 11,1927. 1,645,245

A. w. KNITTEL CURTAIN STRETCHER Original Filed se tf2 1925 2 s she t 2 1 III 14. WKnittel Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

. UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs.

ANDREW W. KNITTED, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA; MARY KNITTEL ADMINIS- IBA'IBIX OF SAID ANDREW W. KNITTED, DECEASED.

CURTAIN STRETOHER.

Application am! September as, was, Serial No. 58,573. Renewed May 19, 1921.

This invention relates to curtain stretchers and has for its object the PIOVlSlOD of av end formed-into a-hook 7 adapted to engage through an eye 8 upon the other leg so that novel construction whereby the stretcher the two legs will be firmly held against may be expeditiously set up for use and I when so set up will be firm and steady. The

invention alsoseeks to provide a novel construction whereby the several parts of the device may be easily folded into compact form and stored in a small space when not in use and when arranged for use will be held against collapse. Other objects W111 appear incidentally in the course of the following description. and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a curtain stretcher embodying my present lmprovements;

* Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 44 of Fig. 1'

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5.-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the joint in the stretcher bars,

In carrying out my present invention. I employ end supporting frames each of which consists of a pair of legs 1 which may be of any preferred dimensions and are adapted to rest at their lower ends upon the ground and converge upwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The upper extremities of the legs are beveled, as shown at 2, and upon the outer faces of said members'at their upper ends are secured hinge plates 3 which project slightly beyond the ends of the respective legs and are constructed with or formed into sleeves or eyes 4 in which is engaged a connecting link or ring 5. By connecting the upper ends of the legs in this manner, they may be easily spread apart to be set up for use, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and when they arenot in use one leg may be folded about its respective eye or sleeve 4 so as to lie fiat against the outer face of the other leg and thus be brought into a very compact form. To prevent spreading of the legs when they are set up for use, I pivotally attach to one leg a rod 6 having its spreading in an obvious manner.

The bevel 2 at the upper end of each leg.

is disposed at such an angle that, when the legs are set up'for use, as shown in Fig. 3, the two bevels will be parallel and lie in vertical planes. They are thus properly arranged to bear against the opposite sides of a top stretcher bar 9 which has its upper edge given the ogee form shown most clearly in Fig. 3 to define a central longitudinal rib or tongue 10 and grooves or shoulders 11 at the base of the tongue on each side thereof. Upon each shoulder 11 are provided pins 12 which project upwardly therefrom when the device is set up for use and are adapted to receive the upper edges of curtains which are to be stretched. The stretcher bar 9 may be easily inserted upwardly between the legs and will frictionally engage therewith so that they are clamped by and between the legs, but in order to positively prevent dropping of the stretcher bar I provide brace rods 13 which are each pivotallv attached at one end to one of the legs and formed at its opposite end with a hook 14 adapted to engage through an eye 15 on the under side of the stretcher bar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The ends of the stretcher bar will in this manner he firmly supported so that dropping of the bar and consequent soiling of the curtains arranged upon the device will be prevented. The stretcher bar is constructed inv two sections which are adapted to aline longitudinally when in use, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, and the meeting ends of the sections are provided in their lower portions with cutaway surfaces 16 which together form a notch to receive the clamping bolt 17, the

will

is equipped at one end with a wing nut 21 adapted to be turned home against the adjacent coupling link when t e" bar 1s arranged for use so that the two sections be firmly clamped in alinement. Upon reference to Fig. 6, it-will be readily noted that the sections .may be swung upwardly about their respective pivots 19, as indicated by dotted lines, so that they may assume approximately parallel positions to be stored away in a small space, thenut 21, of course, being loosened sufiiciently to permit thls movement. When the device is to be used,

together to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, the inclined or cut-away surfaces 16 moving past the bolt and the movement being arrested by the upper end surfaces abutting and by the shoulders 22, formed upon the sections, meeting the bolt The legs are constructed with longltudlnal slots 23 and through the said'slots are 1nserted bolts 24 whereby brackets 25 may be secured to the legs. The brackets, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, consist of a metal plate bent to define approximately a right angle having one side bearing against the outer surfaces of the legs and turned laterally to form a toe 26 resting against the leg so that marring or cutting of the leg by the bracket will be avoided. The longer side of the bracket is provided with an opening 27 therethrough to receive the end of the bolt 24 and a wing nut 28 is mounted upon the bolt at the outer side of the bracket to be turned home against the same and secure-the parts in operative position. A lower stretcher bar 29 is engaged between the brackets 25 and the respective legs and this stretcher bar is also made in sections connected by coupling links 30, corresponding in all respects to the coupling links 20 previously described and provided in connection with the upper stretcher bar 9. The lower stretcher bar. however, does not have a central longitudinal vertical rib, such as the rib 10, but has its upper corner. cut away to provide a recess or groove 31, and curtain enthe stretcher bar so as to project outwardly therefrom through the said recess, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Both stretcher bars, as

well as the'legs, may have their outer surfaces graduated, as indicated at 33, to denote inches so that the parts may be accurately the meeting ends of the sections are swung gaging and holding pins 32 are mounted inlower stretcher bar. To the inner or rear side of this intermediate leg 34, at the upper end thereof, I secure a bracket 36 which extends to the beveled face 37 of the leg and is then carried rearwardly and then upwardly, as shown at 38 in Fig. 5, to engage around the u per stretcher bar 9 and aid in supportmgt e same. The upstanding termmal portion of the bracket 36 is intended to firmly bear against the rear side of the: upper stretcher bar, and to maintain such engagement a set bolt 39 is provided to pass through the depending portion of the bracket and through an opening provided therefor in the leg 34,.a wing nut 40 being mounted upon the front end of said bolt and adapted to be turned home against the intermediate leg, as will be'understood upon .reference to Fig. 5. The legs 1 and 34 are each provided with a groove or recess 41 extending along its front face and pins, indicated at 42, are fixed in said grooves to project therefrom in position to engage the end edges of curtains.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with t e accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very slmple structure whereby the curtain frame may be very easily set up for use or knocked down and arranged in compact form when it is not in use and when set up will be very firm and steady. Both sides of the device,

when it is set up for use, may be utilized to have curtains applied thereto, and it'is obvious that curtains of certain dimensions may be applied to and an orted b one side of the frame and that sh y to theopposite side of the frame, the intermedlate leg 34 being adjusted to accommodate the shorter or narrower. curtains. Wlll also be understood that the lower stretcher bars may be adjusted independent- Having thus described the invention, I

claim: a A curtain stretcher comprising pairs of orter or narrower .curtams may be at the same time applied applying another set of curtains to the delegs, hinge plates secured to the outer surfaces of said legs at the upper ends thereof, a link connection between the extremities of said hinge plates whereby the legs may fold 5 one upon the other or be set up in downwardly diverging relation, means cooperating with the legs to prevent spreading thereof, lower stretcher bars supported by the legs, and an upper stretcher bar disposed between the upper extremities of the legs be- 1 low the hinge connections thereof and clamped by and between the legs.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ANDREW W. KNITTEL. [L.s.] 

